Quando, Quando, Quando (Tell Me When)

Album: Quando, Quando, Quando (1962)
Charted: 95
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • For non-Italian speakers, quando means "when," and in English this song is known as "Quando, Quando, Quando (Tell Me When)", with no question mark.

    With music by Tony Renis and original lyrics by Alberto Testa, this was a massive international hit in 1962. A bossa nova/samba type song, it was recorded by Pat Boone with orchestra conducted by Malcolm Lockyer. The song is usually recorded/performed with a full orchestra. The English lyrics are generally credited to Pat Boone, although they have also been credited to Ervin Drake. Whoever made the translation got it spot on.
  • This song has also been translated into other languages and used in a number of films, including The Easy Life (1962) The Blues Brothers (1980) After Hours (1985) and Superman Returns (2006). It was also used in the 2011 episode of The Simpsons titled "The Real Housewives of Fat Tony." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2
  • Engelbert Humperdinck's 1999 version made #40 UK.
  • The Drifters' 1965 version was used in a commercial that aired during the 2024 Super Bowl starring Jason Sudeikis, Dan Marino and Lionel Messi. In the spot, Messi kicks a soccer ball around on the beach while waiting for his beer.

Comments: 1

  • Tom Jent from UkCertainly doesn't sound like an Erwin Drake lyric!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Rufus Wainwright

Rufus WainwrightSongwriter Interviews

Rufus Wainwright on "Hallelujah," his album Unfollow The Rules, and getting into his "lyric trance" on 12-hour walks.

Chris Rea

Chris ReaSongwriter Interviews

It took him seven years to recover from his American hit "Fool (If You Think It's Over)," but Chris Rea became one of the top singer-songwriters in his native UK.

Christopher Cross

Christopher CrossSongwriter Interviews

The man who created Yacht Rock with "Sailing" wrote one of his biggest hits while on acid.

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

Martin Page

Martin PageSongwriter Interviews

With Bernie Taupin, Martin co-wrote the #1 hits "We Built This City" and "These Dreams." After writing the Pretty Woman song for Go West, he had his own hit with "In the House of Stone and Light."